An electronic water meter and intelligent metering system

Abstract

This application relates to the field of water flow measurement technology, and in particular to an electronic water meter and intelligent metering system, comprising: a sampling module, an impeller magnet assembly, a main control module, a multi-mode communication module, and an LCD display module; the sampling module acquires water flow rate and flow direction data by detecting changes in the magnetic signal of the impeller magnet assembly, and feeds back the flow rate and flow direction data to the main control module; the LCD display module is electrically connected to the main control module and is used to display the flow rate and flow direction data and the status information of the electronic water meter in real time; the multi-mode communication module is electrically connected to the main control module, and the multi-mode communication module includes a wired communication module and a wireless communication module, and the wireless communication module includes a near-field communication unit and a long-range communication unit. This application can achieve high-precision water flow measurement, multi-mode data interaction, and status visualization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of water flow measurement technology, and in particular to an electronic water meter and a smart metering system. Background Technology

[0002] The development of electronic water meters has played a crucial role in the accurate measurement and effective management of water flow. In water management systems, electronic water meters support data collection and analysis, helping to achieve more efficient water resource management. Currently, various methods are commonly used to address issues such as water flow measurement and data exchange. For water flow measurement, some electronic water meters record water flow using mechanical counters. Their working principle involves using water flow to drive mechanical components, which then count the flow through gear transmission. Regarding data exchange, most products only support a single communication protocol, such as LoRa or Bluetooth, which limits data transmission capabilities. For display, some electronic water meters use simple LED screens to display basic water flow information. Additionally, some electronic water meters rely on batteries and wireless solutions for power supply and data transmission to meet the needs of certain usage scenarios.

[0003] However, existing electronic water meters have significant drawbacks. In terms of data interaction and display, their communication methods are limited, supporting only a single communication protocol, making it difficult to adapt to the needs of different water management systems; interactivity is insufficient, with mechanical counters or simple LED screens unable to display multi-dimensional information; offline scenarios are limited, lacking infrared / NFC near-field communication capabilities, making rapid meter reading impossible in situations without network coverage or in emergencies; wired communication is lacking, requiring power supply and data transmission via an M-Bus wired bus in some scenarios, but existing electronic water meters mostly rely on batteries and wireless solutions, failing to meet high reliability requirements. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides an electronic water meter and an intelligent metering system that can achieve high-precision water flow measurement, multi-mode data interaction, and status visualization.

[0005] The above-mentioned objective of this application is achieved through the following technical solution: In a first aspect, this application provides an electronic water meter, including a sampling module, an impeller magnet assembly, a main control module, a multi-mode communication module, and a display module; the sampling module obtains water flow rate and flow direction data by detecting changes in the magnetic signal of the impeller magnet assembly, and feeds back the flow rate and flow direction data to the main control module; the display module is electrically connected to the main control module and is used to display the flow rate and flow direction data and the status information of the electronic water meter in real time; the multi-mode communication module is electrically connected to the main control module, and the multi-mode communication module includes a wired communication module and a wireless communication module, and the wireless communication module includes a near-field communication unit and a long-range communication unit. The sampling module can accurately obtain flow rate and direction data by detecting changes in magnetic signals. The multi-mode communication module can meet the data interaction needs of different scenarios by combining various communication methods. Among them, the near-field communication unit can meet offline near-field operation and realize rapid meter reading in the absence of network coverage or in emergency situations. The wired communication unit can meet the power supply and data transmission needs of the M-Bus wired bus. The display module can intuitively display the flow rate and direction data as well as the status information of the electronic water meter, thereby achieving the effects of high-precision water flow measurement, multi-mode data interaction, and status visualization.

[0006] Preferably, the near-field communication unit includes an infrared communication unit and an NFC communication unit. The infrared communication unit achieves short-range data transmission by transmitting and receiving infrared signals, offering advantages such as low cost and ease of use. The NFC communication unit utilizes electromagnetic induction to achieve short-range data interaction, enabling rapid meter reading in situations without network coverage or in emergencies.

[0007] Preferably, the remote communication unit includes a radio frequency (RF) communication unit. The RF communication unit uses RF signals for long-distance data transmission and may employ communication protocols such as LoRa.

[0008] Preferably, the wired communication module includes an M-Bus communication interface, which is configured with a data conversion circuit. The M-Bus communication interface is a commonly used industrial communication interface capable of stable data transmission. The data conversion circuit converts the data output by the main control module into a data format suitable for the M-Bus communication protocol.

[0009] Preferably, the multi-mode communication module includes a pulse signal output interface to adapt to the mechanical counter, increasing product compatibility.

[0010] Preferably, the display module includes a segment LCD screen, which is divided into an instantaneous flow rate display area, a cumulative usage display area, and an alarm indication area. The segment LCD screen uses a segmented driving method, enabling clear display of various characters and numbers. The instantaneous flow rate display area displays the current water flow rate in real time, the cumulative usage display area displays the total water consumption from the start of use to the present, and the alarm indication area issues an alarm signal when the electronic water meter malfunctions. The LCD display module is electrically connected to the main control module, receiving the data processed by the main control module and displaying it intuitively for user convenience.

[0011] Preferably, the sampling module includes a first Hall sensor and a second Hall sensor spaced apart. The distance between the first Hall sensor and the second Hall sensor is matched with the rotation radius of the impeller magnet assembly to form a phase difference detection structure. Based on this phase difference, the direction of water flow can be accurately determined. The Hall sensor can quickly sense the change in the magnetic field generated by the impeller magnet assembly.

[0012] Preferably, the sampling module includes a TMR sensor, which is positioned close to the impeller magnet assembly to sense changes in the direction and intensity of the magnetic field of the impeller magnet assembly. The TMR sensor features high sensitivity and low power consumption, enabling it to more accurately sense subtle changes in the magnetic field.

[0013] Secondly, this application provides an intelligent metering system, including the aforementioned electronic water meter and terminal device. The flow rate and direction data, as well as the status information of the electronic water meter, are transmitted to the terminal device through the multi-mode communication module. When the electronic water meter acquires water flow rate and direction data through the sampling module and processes it through the main control module, the multi-mode communication module selects an appropriate communication method to transmit the data to the network based on the actual situation. If there is network coverage, the remote communication unit can upload the data to the cloud server through radio frequency communication or other methods, and then the cloud server forwards the data to the terminal device. If in a near-field environment, the near-field communication unit can directly transmit the data to the terminal device that supports the corresponding communication protocol. After receiving the data, the terminal device can further analyze and process the data, such as generating water usage reports and performing water usage trend analysis.

[0014] In summary, this application includes at least the following beneficial technical effects: The sampling module accurately obtains water flow rate and direction data by detecting changes in magnetic signals and feeds this data back to the main control module. The main control module sends the water flow rate and direction data through the multi-mode communication module, realizing non-contact, high-precision measurement of water flow rate and determination of flow direction. The multi-mode communication module combines various communication methods to meet the data interaction needs of different scenarios. For example, the near-field communication unit can meet offline near-field operation and enable rapid meter reading in the absence of network coverage or in emergency situations. The wired communication unit can meet the power supply and data transmission needs of the M-Bus wired bus. The display module can intuitively display the flow rate and direction data as well as the status information of the electronic water meter, thereby achieving the effects of high-precision measurement of water flow rate, multi-mode data interaction, and status visualization, adapting to the hybrid deployment needs of traditional meter reading systems and new IoT platforms. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the circuit module connection of the electronic water meter in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a circuit diagram of an electronic water meter in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a second circuit diagram of the electronic water meter in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 This is a circuit diagram of the NFC communication unit of the electronic water meter in this embodiment of the application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the display module of the electronic water meter in the embodiments of this application; Figure 6 This is a circuit diagram of the sampling module of the electronic water meter in this embodiment of the application. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The following embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the function of this application, but do not limit this application in any way. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application. These all fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0017] In the following description, specific details such as particular system architectures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this application may also be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of this application with unnecessary detail.

[0018] It should be understood that, when used in this application specification and the appended claims, the term "comprising" indicates the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or a collection thereof.

[0019] The present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Reference Figures 1-6 The electronic water meter provided in this application includes a sampling module 20, an impeller magnet assembly, a main control module 10, a multi-mode communication module, and a liquid crystal display module 30. The sampling module 20 obtains water flow rate and flow direction data by detecting changes in the magnetic signal of the impeller magnet assembly, and feeds back the flow rate and flow direction data to the main control module 10. The liquid crystal display module 30 is electrically connected to the main control module 10 and is used to display the flow rate and flow direction data and the status information of the electronic water meter in real time. The multi-mode communication module is electrically connected to the main control module 10. The multi-mode communication module includes a wired communication module and a wireless communication module, and the wireless communication module includes a near-field communication unit and a remote communication unit. The sampling module 20 accurately obtains water flow rate and direction data by detecting changes in magnetic signals and feeds this data back to the main control module 10. The main control module 10 sends the water flow rate and direction data through the multi-mode communication module, realizing non-contact high-precision measurement of water flow rate and determination of flow direction. The multi-mode communication module can meet the data interaction needs of different scenarios by combining various communication methods. For example, the near-field communication unit can meet offline near-field operation and realize rapid meter reading in the absence of network coverage or in emergency situations. The wired communication unit can meet the power supply and data transmission needs of the M-Bus wired bus. The LCD display module 30 can intuitively display the flow rate and direction data as well as the status information of the electronic water meter, thereby achieving the effects of high-precision measurement of water flow rate, multi-mode data interaction and status visualization, and adapting to the hybrid deployment needs of traditional meter reading systems and new Internet of Things platforms.

[0021] Specifically, the impeller magnet assembly can consist of a propeller-type impeller and a permanent magnet ring. The impeller can be injection molded from nylon 66 composite material, with neodymium iron boron magnets embedded at the blade tips to form a rotating magnetic field source. As an alternative, the permanent magnet ring can be replaced with anisotropic samarium cobalt magnets to improve high-temperature stability. The sampling module 20 includes a first Hall sensor and a second Hall sensor spaced apart. The Hall sensors are fixed inside the electronic water meter using a planar encapsulation structure, with their sensing surfaces facing the rotation axis of the impeller magnet assembly. The first and second Hall sensors are symmetrically distributed at 90° along the impeller's rotation trajectory, and their center distance is precisely matched with the magnetic pole distance of the impeller magnet assembly to form a phase difference detection structure. This structure calculates the rotational speed based on the time difference of the magnetic field signal. When the water flow drives the impeller magnet assembly to rotate, the two Hall sensors sequentially capture changes in magnetic field strength, and the phase difference data is processed by the main control module 10 and converted into flow parameters.

[0022] Specifically, the main control module 10 generally consists of a microprocessor chip and related circuits. The microprocessor chip can be a high-performance microcontroller, such as an ARM or STM series microcontroller, which has powerful computing and processing capabilities, enabling it to quickly process the flow and direction data fed back from the sampling module 20. Related circuits include power supply circuits and clock circuits. The power supply circuit provides a stable power supply to the microprocessor chip, and the clock circuit provides an accurate clock signal for the chip's operation. After receiving the data fed back from the sampling module 20, the main control module 10 analyzes, processes, and stores the data, preparing it for subsequent data display and transmission.

[0023] like Figure 3 The multi-mode communication module includes a wired communication module and a wireless communication module. In some embodiments, the wired communication module includes an M-BUS communication interface 14, which is configured with a data conversion circuit. The M-BUS communication interface 14 is a commonly used industrial communication interface that enables stable data transmission. The data conversion circuit converts the data output by the main control module 10 into a data format suitable for the M-Bus communication protocol. An alternative wired communication interface could be an RS485 interface. The wireless communication module includes a near-field communication unit and a long-range communication unit. In some embodiments, the near-field communication unit includes an infrared communication unit 11 and an NFC communication unit 12. The infrared communication unit 11 achieves short-range data transmission by transmitting and receiving infrared signals, and is characterized by low cost and ease of use. Figure 4The NFC communication unit 12 utilizes the principle of electromagnetic induction to achieve short-range data interaction, enabling rapid meter reading in situations without network coverage or in emergencies. In addition to the infrared communication unit 11 and the NFC communication unit 12, a Bluetooth communication unit can also be added. Bluetooth is also a commonly used near-field communication method, characterized by high transmission speed and convenient connection. This further enriches the near-field communication options, allowing users to choose different near-field communication methods for data interaction based on actual conditions, thus improving the flexibility and adaptability of electronic water meters in near-field data interaction.

[0024] In some embodiments, the remote communication unit includes a radio frequency (RF) communication unit 13, which uses RF signals for long-distance data transmission and may employ communication protocols such as LoRa. An alternative remote communication method is GPRS communication.

[0025] In some embodiments, the multi-mode communication module further includes a pulse signal output interface 14 to adapt to the mechanical counter. The pulse signal output interface 14 outputs the data from the electronic water meter in the form of pulse signals, enabling the mechanical counter to also record water flow. The combination of various communication methods in the multi-mode communication module can meet the data interaction needs in different scenarios, efficiently completing both short-distance rapid meter reading and long-distance data transmission.

[0026] like Figure 5 In some embodiments, the liquid crystal display module 30 includes a segmented LCD screen with segmented driving. The segmented LCD screen is divided into an instantaneous flow rate display area, a cumulative usage display area, and an alarm indication area. The segmented LCD screen uses a segmented driving method, enabling clear display of various characters and numbers. The instantaneous flow rate display area displays the current water flow rate in real time, the cumulative usage display area displays the total water consumption from the start of use to the present, and the alarm indication area issues an alarm signal when the electronic water meter malfunctions. An alternative display method could be a dot-matrix LCD screen, which can display richer graphic and text information. The liquid crystal display module 30 is electrically connected to the main control module 10, receives the data processed by the main control module 10, and displays it intuitively for user convenience.

[0027] like Figure 6In some embodiments, the sampling module 20 employs a TMR sensor. The TMR sensor utilizes a vertical tunnel magnetoresistive structure, exhibiting an extremely high magnetoresistive change rate, enabling more sensitive detection of magnetic field changes and achieving a higher signal-to-noise ratio through magnetic flux gradient detection. In terms of installation location, the TMR sensor is positioned close to the impeller magnet assembly, its sensing direction matching the direction of the magnetic field generated by the impeller magnet assembly to maximize the capture of magnetic field changes. For example, when the impeller magnet assembly rotates, the TMR sensor can quickly respond to changes in magnetic field strength and direction. When water flow drives the impeller magnet assembly to rotate, generating a changing magnetic field, the TMR sensor can accurately detect these magnetic field changes and convert them into electrical signals, transmitting them to the main control module 10. The main control module 10 analyzes and processes these electrical signals to accurately calculate the water flow rate and direction. Compared to traditional Hall effect sensors, the high sensitivity and fast response characteristics of the TMR sensor make flow measurement more accurate and better adaptable to complex water flow environments.

[0028] The intelligent metering system provided in this embodiment includes the aforementioned electronic water meter and terminal device. Flow rate and direction data, as well as the status information of the electronic water meter, are transmitted to the terminal device via a multi-mode communication module. The terminal device can be a computer, mobile phone, etc. When the electronic water meter obtains water flow rate and direction data through the sampling module 20 and processes it through the main control module 10, the multi-mode communication module selects an appropriate communication method to transmit the data to the network according to the actual situation. If there is network coverage, the remote communication unit can upload the data to the cloud server through radio frequency communication or other methods, and then the cloud server forwards the data to the terminal device. If in a near-field environment, the near-field communication unit can directly transmit the data to the terminal device that supports the corresponding communication protocol. After receiving the data, the terminal device can further analyze and process the data, such as generating water usage reports and performing water usage trend analysis. The intelligent metering system in this embodiment connects the electronic water meter and the terminal device through a network, realizing real-time transmission and remote monitoring of water flow data and status information. Users can view the relevant information of the electronic water meter at any time on the terminal device, facilitating water resource management and scheduling. Compared with existing technologies, it improves the level of intelligence in water resource management, making water management more efficient and convenient.

[0029] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the above-described division of functional units and modules is used as an example. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional units and modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the system can be divided into different functional units or modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.

[0030] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An electronic water meter characterized by, include: The system comprises a sampling module (20), an impeller magnet assembly, a main control module (10), a multi-mode communication module, and a display module (30). The sampling module (20) acquires water flow rate and flow direction data by detecting changes in the magnetic signal of the impeller magnet assembly, and feeds back the flow rate and flow direction data to the main control module (10). The display module (30) is electrically connected to the main control module (10) and is used to display the flow rate and flow direction data and the status information of the electronic water meter in real time. The multi-mode communication module is electrically connected to the main control module (10). The multi-mode communication module includes a wired communication module and a wireless communication module, and the wireless communication module includes a near-field communication unit and a remote communication unit.

2. The electronic water meter of claim 1, wherein, The near-field communication unit includes an infrared communication unit (11) and an NFC communication unit (12).

3. The electronic water meter of claim 1, wherein, The remote communication unit includes a radio frequency communication unit (13).

4. The electronic water meter of claim 1, wherein, The wired communication module includes an M-BUS communication interface (14), which is equipped with a data conversion circuit.

5. The electronic water meter of claim 1, wherein, The multimode communication module includes a pulse signal output interface (15) to be adapted to a mechanical counter.

6. The electronic water meter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The display module (30) includes a segment LCD screen, which is divided into an instantaneous flow rate display area, a cumulative usage display area, and an alarm indication area.

7. The electronic water meter of claim 1, wherein, The sampling module (20) includes a first Hall sensor and a second Hall sensor spaced apart, the distance between the first Hall sensor and the second Hall sensor being matched with the rotation radius of the impeller magnet assembly to form a phase difference detection structure.

8. The electronic water meter of claim 1, wherein, The sampling module (20) includes a TMR sensor, which is located near the impeller magnet assembly and is used to sense changes in the direction and intensity of the magnetic field of the impeller magnet assembly.

9. A smart metering system, characterized in that The device includes a terminal device and an electronic water meter as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the flow rate and flow direction data and the status information of the electronic water meter are transmitted to the terminal device through the multi-mode communication module.

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